Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Lenox Almond Biscotti

For this week's Tuesdays with Dorie selection, Gretchen of Canela & Comino chose Lenox Almond Biscotti on page 141-143 of Dorie's book, Baking: From My Home to Yours.

I made the basic recipe and added 1/3 cup of dried cranberries. I also cut the almond extract to 1/2 t and added 1/2 t vanilla. This was the second time I made this...the first batch was an undercooked disaster and tasted too "almondy." I baked this batch for almost double the time (perhaps a little too much because they are a little brown!)

Dorie's recipe says, "Return the slices to the baking sheet - this time standing them up like a marching band." (I didn't understand this the first time, but after reading the TWD comments, I think this is what she means). However, I was able to get them into the oven....

But when I went to check on them after a few minutes, my marching band disbanded themselves.

Then I went to Plan B. I heard someone baked them on a rack to allow air flow. I added the "marching band" biscotti to ones I cut on the bias and flipped them several times during the second bake.

Dried cranberries! Yum! Totally wanna do that the next time I make it. LOL @ marching band pics. I thought the same thing too! I guess Dorie meant flat on its original bottom arranged in straight rows (ie I had 12 biscotti so I would have arranged them in 3 rows of 4). No matter b/c your "marching band" pics are SO cute! Great job!Clara @ iheartfood4thought

Superb pictures, the light and depth are killers... but the cutest is the marching band, I too thought of putting them standing... then, didn't just for the heck of sabing time and energy!Your biscotti are great ...and the pics amazing! BRAVO!

This is too funny! But weren't these good? By the way, I thought the almond flavor was overpowering yesterday(when they were freshly baked), and I made a note to use much less next time. But this morning it's almost unnoticeable. Isn't that interesting? Audrey

Oh, the marching band comment, or was it soldiers? Either way, I read that and thought how do sliced biscotti resemble that? I just spread them out on the baking sheet and popped them back in the oven to dry out. I think we need to develop a tribute recipe that does require it to be baked standing on end. My goodness, I am seeing my next April 1st post!

What a great bunch of pictures. I like your marching band there! Guess they got tired and took a break in the heat. :o) I skipped almond extract all together. I like almonds but not extract. I thought these were pretty good, especially dipped in chocolate. They'll be nice for the holidays.

OH haha, I love how you stood them up!!! I didn't even think to do it like this - I stood them up on their bottoms instead of on their sides and I thought that's what she meant - but who knows, right? It's really impressive that you were even able to get them into the oven like that! Anyhow, your biscotti look delicious!

Oh, I LOVE the fact that you arranged them like a marching band and went the extra mile and actually put them in the oven that way! This instruction perplexed me, and the visual of a biscotti marching band made me laugh every time. I love your addition of dried cranberries. Your biscotti look perfect! Cathy at The Tortefeasor.

Ah Ha! That must be the marching band concept, but as I was reading your post I though, How on Earth did you get those to stay standing like that in the oven...hmmm, read on. I tend to jump the gun on things. Great job! The photos are awesome!